BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Brother Georg has arrived
for Benedict XVI's 86th birthday
The emeritus Pope is recovering from 'retirement shock'
by Gian Guido Vecchi
Translated from

April 12, 2013

In complete privacy, Benedict XVI's older brother, Mons. Georg Ratzinger, arrived in Castel Gandolfo to join the emeritus Pope in celebrating his 86th birthday on Tuesday, April 16.

Notwithstanding the rumors on Twitter that Benedict XVI has died or is dying, or the presumptuous conclusion of a Spanish journalist that he is afflicted with a serious disease which could be terminal,
the unofficial news from Castel Gandolfo is that the emeritus Pope is recovering from classic 'retirement shock' which is more likely with someone his age and considering the office he held.

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi bluntly reiterated that Benedict is suffering from any 'specific ailment', saying that his health concerns are 'those related to his age'.

Many certainly observed that the retired Pope looked weaker and frailer in the images of his meeting with Pope Francis at Castel Gandolfo last March 23, giving rise to the speculation about his state of health.

Yet he himself, when announcing his decision to renounce the Papacy last February 11, and again at his last general audience on February 27, that the reason for the decision was that "in recent months, I have felt that my strength has diminished".

Prof. Attilio Maseri, who was a cardiologist for John Paul II and now for Queen Elizabeth II, said that 'retirement shock' was a usual reaction, "especially when someone has held great responsibility - just imagine what it would be after you have been Pope! It becomes even more pronounced under the circumstances of his voluntary resignation".

He says that the condition is not easy = to suddenly stop being Pope after eight years - but that the person eventually rebounds and he gets back to normal.

"The emeritus Pope's heart problems are well-known," he continues, "but in this case the shock is psychological, to the brain, not to the heart. So it is good if the person remains intellectually active, as Benedict XVI is".

Yesterday, Fr. Lombardi also said that Pope Francis is kept abreast of how his predecessor is doing if only because he gets to talk daily to Mons Georg Gaenswein, who serves as Prefect of the Pontifical Household.

It is known that the former Pope brought a great number of books with him to Castel Gandolfo after he left the Vatican on February 28.

And he continues to share his daily life with those who constituted his pontifical family at the Vatican - starting with Mons. Gaenswein, who commutes between Castel Gandolfo and the Vatican, and the four Memores Domini housekeepers.

Perhaps an important sign is that they have been joined by Birgit Wansing, Joseph Ratzinger's longtime secretary who is said to be the only person who can decipher and transcribe his minute handwriting. Wansing is a lay nun of the Schoenstatt community, and when Benedict was Pope, she did not live at the Vatican but at the community's house in Rome. So obviously, the emeritus Pope continues to read and write as he did.

With the arrival of his brother, also back in the household is Sister Christine, who acts as his nurse when he is visiting Joseph.

Papa Ratzinger's 'family' will celebrate together not just his 86th birthday and the eight anniversary of his election as Pope, but also the name day of both brother Georg and Mons. Gaenswein on April 23.

In Castel Gandolfo, Benedict's concession to himself is to wake up a little later. Then he says his daily Mass, recites his breviary and Lauds before breakfast, reads the newspapers, then devotes his time io prayer and reflection till lunch. This is followed by his usual post-prandial siesta, and then a walk in the gardens to say the Rosary. More prayers, then it is dinnertime, after which he watches the news on TV, reads and prays some more before going to bed.

So he has been gradually recovering from 'retirement shock', and is looking forward to returning to the Vatican either at the end of April or the first week of May.

Work on the former Mater Ecclesiae monastery where he will spend the rest of his retirement days is almost complete, and awaiting him there are boxes of his personal files as Pope as well as his beloved private library. [And the piano, too!]